This South American drink comes from Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Indigenous peoples consumed it before conquistadors arrived. Argentines drink mate after water. Over 90% of homes have it.
Mate derives from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. Much of it still grows where originally consumed: Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.
It’s a popular drink gaining worldwide popularity. While originating in Argentina, it spread beyond. Indigenous peoples in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil drank it for centuries as an energizing, medicinal beverage.
You can find it in local shops pure or with fruit juice, hot or iced. Often it’s sweetened and consumed for breakfast or afternoon tea with pastries. Flavored blends mate with herbs like peppermint or citrus rind.
After a hike, explore local coffee houses and tea rooms. Discover the wide selection to satisfy your tastebuds.
Organic yerba costs more but offers health benefits.
You can find products in tea or international aisles and South American sections of supermarkets. Ethnic markets also sell it. Aside from dried leaves, ready-made tea bags and drinks exist too.
Is yerba mate only in California?
Yerba mate is a species of the holly genus native to subtropical South America. The plant is harvested and brewed similar to tea, to make a popular specialty beverage throughout South America. This South American drink has been consumed in central and southern regions of South America for centuries, primarily in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, and southern Chile.
The Guarani indigenous to Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil began using the yerba mate plant in therapeutic treatments in the pre-Columbian period. Their oral history states that preparation was taught to a native family by the goddess of the moon Yari. Mate’s powers of wellness were also mythicized.
You can find brands of it in California like Guayaki, Mate Factor, and Eco Teas. It can be prepared traditionally as a hot tea or in modern ways like iced or blended with fruits. This drink is best when shared with other people. The Internet is an amazing resource to find new blends as well as getting equipment to drink mate with the traditional gourd and bombilla.
This South American drink originally hails from Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. It is traditionally consumed in central and southern regions of South America, primarily in Paraguay, as well as in Argentina, Uruguay, southern and central-western Brazil, the Chaco region of Bolivia and southern Chile. This hot drink is enjoyed in many South American countries, and often has cultural customs and traditions surrounding it. There are different styles which depend on where the leaves are grown, each has its own texture and unique flavor. The styles are Argentine, Uruguayan, and Paraguayan which are grown in their respective countries. This tea is the most popular drink in Argentina, surpassing coffee and tea. This tea is typically consumed from a container called gourd and sipped with a metal straw that filters the leaf fragments floating on the surface. The gourd is shared from one person to another as a sign of friendship and camaraderie, a custom that was passed on from ancient times. This drink was first cultivated and used by the indigenous Guaraní people and in some Tupí communities in southern Brazil, prior to European colonization. The tea is prepared with the leaves of the tree from South America, which only grows in three countries: Argentina ( the world’s main producer), Brazil and Paraguay. This tree, called Ilex Paraguariensis, is part of a large family of species with more than 600 varieties. The plant can have a productive life of up to 100 years. Although preparations vary, the culture of mate transcends borders. The goddess Yasí proclaimed the plant a symbol of friendship.